[A Case of Giant Abdominal Desmoid Tumor in a Young Man].

Desmoid tumor is a rare tumor of the soft tissue. The frequency of occurrence is 2.4 to 4.3 cases per year per million people, which is a very rare disease. We experienced a huge intra-abdominal desmoid tumor which is thought to be the primary mesentery. The case was a male in his 20s. He visited a nearby doctor with a complaint of abdominal bloating and abdominal pain. Abdominal contrast CT revealed a huge abdominal mass with a clear boundary of 35×25 cm in size extending from the upper right abdomen to the pelvis. Surgery was performed with a diagnosis of an intra-abdominal mass. Open abdominal tumor resection. Due to infiltration into the duodenum, transverse colon, and pancreas, right hemicolectomy and duodenal combined resection were performed. The pathological diagnosis was a diagnosis of desmoid tumor.

[A Case of Gastric Cancer Performed Curative Operation after Nivolumab].

A 69-year-old man was admitted for the severe anemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed type 3 gastric cancer (por1, HER2 negative)that spread from EG junction to the lesser curvature of lower gastric body. CT revealed LNs metastasis and the direct invasion to the diaphragm. We diagnosed the locally advanced gastric cancer(T4bN[+]M0, Stage ⅣA) and planed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After 3 courses of S-1 plus CDDP therapy, serum CEA level increased. And the invasion to diaphragm was unclear although the tumor shrunk. After 3 courses of nab-PTX plus RAM therapy as the second- line, the tumor was PD. As the third-line chemotherapy, nivolumab therapy was repeated up to a total of 15 courses. As the tumor was PR, the patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. The histopathological examination revealed that the cancer invaded into the muscle layer without lymph nodes metastasis. The cancer was diagnosed as pT2 (MP)N0M0, Stage ⅠB. The cancer cells were EB virus positive and MSI-high. CD 8 positive T lymphocytes infiltrated into the stroma. The patient is alive 26 months without adjuvant chemotherapy. The curative operation was able to perform because the infiltrative CD8 positive T lymphocytes reactivated with nivolumab responded remarkably.

[A Case of Primary Hepatic Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma].

A 74-year-old man with no chronic liver disease was admitted for an incidental liver tumor by computed tomography. Serological examinations for hepatitis B and C virus were negative and tumor markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen, α-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, were within the normal range. The contrast- enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the 26 mm in diameter patchy tumor occupied the S7 in the liver. The tumor boundary was enhanced slightly in the arterial phase and inside gradually in the portal phase, and the enhancement was faded in the late phase. As a characteristic finding, vessels penetrated the tumor. The tumor was diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma, and the patient underwent right lateral sectionectomy. After 19 days postoperatively, the patient was discharged. The diagnosis of hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT)lymphoma was made by pathological examination. Currently, the patient has no recurrence for 5 months without adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary hepatic MALT lymphoma is a rare disease among primary hepatic malignant lymphomas. The patient must be followed up carefully because 2 cases were reported as recurrent cases after several years postoperatively although the disease has a good prognosis.

[A Case of Laparoscopically Resected Sigmoid Colon Cancer and Transverse Colon Mesentery Primary Solitary Fibrous Tumor].

The patient is a 52-year-old woman who visited the general practitioner because of positive fecal occult blood test by medical examination. The patient underwent colonoscopy at the hospital, which revealed sigmoid colon cancer. Therefore, the patient was referred to our hospital for surgery. Preoperative CT scan revealed a well-defined and lobulated 54 mm tumor on the caudal side of the duodenal third portion. On MRI, the tumor showed low T1-weighted image signal and high T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images signal, with low ADC. For preoperative diagnosis, we diagnosed sigmoid colon cancer and transverse colon mesenteric and performed laparoscopic sigmoid colon and transverse colon mesenteric tumor resections. The histopathological tumor diagnoses were sigmoid colon cancer(S, type 2, 30×30 mm, 1/2 circumference, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, pT3[SS], INF b, Ly1a, V1a, pN1b[#252: 2/4], sM0, fStage Ⅲb)and transverse colon mesentery primary solitary fibrous tumor. The patient was treated with XELOX as the adjuvant chemotherapy and survived without recurrence until present.

[A Case of Giant Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm That Was Difficult to Preoperative Diagnosis].

A 43-year-old woman with about abdominal distension was referred to our hospital for a more detailed examination. Abdominal CT showed 27 cm-sized cystic lesion with the calcification along the partition wall and a nodular hyperplasia. We suspected pancreatic pseudocyst, primary retroperitoneal tumor and we performed tumorectomy. The resected specimen had a maximum diameter of 27 cm. The histopathological diagnosis was mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas with ovarian-type stroma. The adjuvant chemotherapy treated with gemcitabine was selected for 3 courses. She continues to do well without any recurrences 7 months later.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Resection for a Primary Malignant Lymphoma of the Small Intestine Strongly Adhered to the Sigmoid Colon].

An 85-year-old man presented to our hospital for loss of consciousness. Blood test revealed anemia, and the fecal occult blood test was positive. Colonoscopy revealed an ileal ulcer located 10-14 cm from the ileal end on the proximal side. Pathological examination was indicative of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL), and laparoscopic resection was selected as the technique of choice. The ileal tumor was strongly adhered to the sigmoid colon, and laparoscopic partial resection of the ileum and sigmoid colon was performed. In general, primary gastrointestinal lymphomas may occur, for which perforate and surgical resection is recommended. It is rare for malignant lymphomas to involve other intestinal areas, and laparoscopic surgery is useful in such cases.

[A Case of Pancreatic Head Cancer Resected after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Pseudocyst].

A 41-year-old man with upper abdominal and back pain was admitted to another hospital. He had a history of recurring acute pancreatitis and pseudocyst. Six months later, abdominal CT revealed a pancreatic head tumor arising from the pseudocyst, and adenocarcinoma was suspected based on endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA)findings. We selected neoadjuvant chemotherapy because resection was difficult due to severe inflammation and edema around the tumor. Chemotherapy(FOLFIRINOX followed by gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel)was effective, and the tumor almost disappeared on CT. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy(SSPPD)was performed 12 months after starting chemotherapy, and curative resection was successful. The final Stage was ⅡA(T3[CH1]N0M0). Histopathological examination revealed no viable tumor cells. S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy was administered for 6 months. He was still alive 22 months postoperation without any recurrence. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective in cases involving pancreatic cancer with severe inflammation, because pre-operative chemotherapy can reduce tumor size and alleviate the inflammation caused by acute pancreatitis and pseudocysts.

[A Case of Gastric Endocrine Carcinoma with a Huge Liver Metastasis].

A-67-year old man was diagnosed with gastric cancer and a liver tumor. Extended left hemihepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy and distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were performed. Histological examination revealed synaptophysin and CD56positive tumor cells with a solid and rosette structure, which was diagnosed as endocrine carcinoma (EC). Additionally, a tubular adenocarcinoma was present in the stomach. The liver tumor presented as EC with tumor thrombus in the left portal vein. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with gastric EC(pT3[SS], pN0, P0, CY0, M1[HEP], Stage Ⅳ, R0). He received 6courses of the adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin(CDDP)plus irinotecan(CPT-11), and has been alive without recurrence for 21 months post-operation. Gastric EC is a rare subtype of gastric cancer. The resection of liver metastasis of gastric EC may improve patients' prognosis and QOL. CDDP-based chemotherapy is recommended, due to the regimen for small cell lung cancer.

Risk Factors and Managements of Bile Leakage After Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the risk factors and evaluate the management of bile leakage. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-four patients who underwent hepatectomy for Child classification grade A liver disease, without biliary reconstruction and laparoscopic procedures, between 2003 and 2013 were included. Risk factors were identified using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Bile leakage was observed in 30 (9.0%) patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that type of hepatectomy (segmentectomy 1, medial sectionectomy, anterior sectionectomy, or central bisectionectomy) and operating time was independent risk factors for bile leakage. Among 30 patients with confirmed bile leakage, central type leakage that was in communication with the biliary tree occurred in 23 (76.7%) patients and peripheral type, which was not in communication with the biliary tree, in 7 (23.3%) patients. Ten patients were treated with only drainage. Endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic procedures were performed in 15 cases with central type leakage. Ablation treatment using ethanol or minocycline was mainly performed for peripheral type leakage. Four cases with central type leakage had strictures of the right hepatic duct. Two of them were treated with ablation treatment, portal vein embolization, or fistulojejunostomy. Median duration from diagnosis to end of therapy was 77 days (11-323) in central type and 44 days (6-123) in peripheral type leakage, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Complex hepatectomy and operating time are independent risk factors for postoperative bile leakage. Biliary exploration should be performed as soon as possible after diagnosis, because most bile leakage is the central type. Central type of bile leakage is sometimes refractory to therapy, needing various treatments and requiring a long time for recovery.

Dendritic cells transfected with heat-shock protein 70 messenger RNA for patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported overexpression of heat-shock protein (HSP) 70 in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using proteomic profiling and immunohistochemical staining (IHS). This suggested that HSP70 could be a molecular target for treatment of HCC. METHODS: Twelve patients with HCV-related HCC were enrolled in a phase 1 clinical trial. Dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with HSP70 mRNA (HSP70-DCs) induced by electroporation were injected intradermally. Patients were treated three times every 3 weeks. The number of HSP70-DCs injected was 1 × 10(7) as the lowest dose, then 2 × 10(7) as the medium dose, and then 3 × 10(7) as the highest dose. Immunological analyses were performed. FINDINGS: No adverse effects of grade III/IV, except one grade III liver abscess at the 3 × 10(7) dose, were observed. Thus, we added three more patients to confirm whether 3 × 10(7) is an appropriate dose. Eventually, we chose 3 × 10(7) as the recommended dose of DCs. Complete response (CR) without any recurrence occurred in two patients, stable disease in five, and progression of disease in five. The two patients with CR have had no recurrence for 44 and 33 months, respectively. IHS in one patient who underwent partial hepatectomy showed infiltration of CD8+ T cells and granzyme B in tumors, indicating that the dominant immune effector cells were cytotoxic T lymphocytes with tumor-killing activity. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrated that HSP70-DCs therapy is both safe and feasible in patients with HCV-related HCC. Further clinical trials should be considered.

[A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a Vp4 Tumor Thrombus Treated by Multidisciplinary Therapy].

We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a Vp4 tumor thrombus treated successfully with multidisciplinary therapy. A 59-year-old woman who complained of abdominal distension was diagnosed as having HCC associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The tumor was located in the left lobe, caudate lobe, and S6, and the tumor thrombus extended into the main portal and right portal veins. Extended left lobectomy with thrombectomy and S6 partial hepatectomy were performed after intrahepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with radiation. During the surgery, the collateral circulation was preserved for bleeding control and residual liver function preservation. The patient was alive 12 months after surgery. Cases of advanced HCC with Vp4 can be successfully treated by multidisciplinary therapy.

[A Case of a Submucosal Tumor-Like Gastric Cancer That Needed to Be Distinguished from Gastric Metastasis of Rectal Cancer].

A 56-year-old man who underwent a radical operation and adjuvant chemotherapy for recurrent rectal cancer had been followed-up and had no recurrence for one and a half years. Thereafter, CT and upper endoscopy showed a submucosal tumor with a central recess developing in the stomach wall. It was suspected that the gastric tumor was either a metastasis of rectal cancer or a submucosal tumor-like gastric cancer. We performed a radical operation to remove the lesion. In the resected specimen, immunohistopathological findings including HER2 status suggested that the gastric tumor was a primary gastric cancer resembling a submucosal tumor.

[Clinical benefit of thoracoscopic approach for liver tumors located under the diaphragm].

UNLABELLED: It is important to ensure restricted operation fields and operation maneuvers in the surgical resection of liver tumors located under the diaphragm, especially those near the hepatic vein and IVC. Here we describe resection and ablation using thoracoscopy for tumors under the diaphragm after preoperative three-dimensional (3D) simulation. METHOD: Preoperative 3D images were reformatted preoperatively using a 3D software tool (Virtual Place; AZE, Japan). These images simulate the thoracoscopic view on the surface of the diaphragm, enabling us to confirm the tumor location and choose optimal port position. RESULT: We performed thoracoscopic surgery in 5 patients (4 with HCC and 1 with a metastatic tumor) after the simulation. In all cases, we were able to safely confirm the tumor locations and perform the surgeries. CONCLUSION: Preoperative 3D simulation makes it easy to determine the optimal port position for the thoracoscope and confirm the tumor location. The approach through the diaphragm using thoracoscpy is useful since it does not require liver mobilization.

[A case of metachronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer successfully treated with hepatectomy].

The use of hepatectomy for the treatment of liver metastasis from gastric cancer has been controversial. We report a case of metachronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer, which we successfully treated with hepatectomy. A 59-year-old man underwent laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy with D1 plus lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. The histopathological findings revealed that the tumor was a well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, T2(MP), N1(#1 2/3), M0, fStage II, according to the 14th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. TS-1 was administered as adjuvant chemo- therapy for 1 year after the operation. About 5 years after the gastrectomy, a recurrent tumor was detected in S5/8-7 of the liver. Although chemotherapy with TS-1 plus Lentinan was administered, the liver tumor increased in size. Percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization was performed to improve liver function followed by resection of the right lobe of the liver. Paclitaxel plus doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) was administered for 6 months as adjuvant chemotherapy. No recurrence was observed for 17 months after hepatectomy.

[A case of hepatectomy for liver metastases of advanced colon cancer after conversion therapy].

Curative resection can be achieved in some cases of multiple liver metastases that are initially unresectable by multistage hepatectomy. We report the case of a patient who underwent 2 hepatectomy procedures for liver metastases of advanced colon cancer after conversion chemotherapy and 2-stage hepatectomy; this treatment resulted in long-term survival.

[A case of rectal carcinoid tumor with lymph node and liver metastasis 5 years after curative resection].

A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with a rectal carcinoid tumor (10 mm in diameter) in July 2007. We performed low anterior resection with lymph node dissection. Histological depth of penetration of the rectal wall by the primary tumor was up to the submucosa, and lymph node metastasis was observed at station 251 (Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma, seventh Edition). Five years later, abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple liver tumors and swelling of the right obturator lymph nodes. During surgery, ultrasonography revealed 10 hypoechoic masses in both hepatic lobes. We performed right pelvic lymph node dissection, partial hepatectomy (S5/6, S7, and S8), and microwave coagulation therapy. After surgery, the patient was treated with octreotide long-acting repeatable( LAR). The patient remained disease-free for 10 months after surgery. Our findings suggest that careful monitoring is necessary for metachronous lymph node and liver metastasis during follow-up treatment for rectal carcinoid tumors.

[A resected case of hilar cholangiocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy].

The patient was a 69-year-old woman with elevated levels of hepatobiliary enzymes. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an enhanced mass in the liver hilum with dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct. We diagnosed hilar cholangiocarcinoma and administered neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy because of the possibility of tumor cells remaining at the surgical margins. Radical surgery was performed and pathological examination showed the tumor to be Grade 2b according to the Oboshi-Shimosato classification. Although postoperative bile leakage and intra-abdominal abscess were observed, the patient was discharged on day 82 after surgery. The patient is still alive without recurrence at 17 months after the surgery. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy has the potential to obtain a negative surgical margin in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, which is likely to be positive for cancer cells at the surgical margin in preoperative diagnosis.

[A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with Vp4 tumor thrombus treated by radiation therapy before hepatectomy].

A 61-year-old man who complained of right hypochondralgia was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The tumor was located in the right lobe and S3, and the tumor thrombus extended into the main portal and left portal veins. Preoperatively, real-time tumor-tracking radiation therapy was performed on the tumor thrombus (20 Gy/4 Fr),after vessel coils were placed at the anterior hepatic artery as a marker for the radiation. Ten days after radiation therapy, extended right hepatectomy with thrombectomy and S3 partial hepatectomy were performed. There were no postsurgical complications, and intrahepatic artery infusion chemotherapy was performed. The patient was alive with no recurrences 20 months after surgery. Radiation therapy before hepatectomy is an effective treatment for portal venous tumor thrombus in HCC.

Application and utility of surgical techniques for cystic plate isolation in liver surgery.

One of the most important areas of anatomical knowledge for liver surgery is the plate system in the hilar area. Four plates comprise the hilar area plate system: the hilar plate, cystic plate, umbilical plate, and Arantian plate. Based on the theory that the cystic plate is continuous with the hilar plate, isolation of the cystic plate can be applicable to various scenarios in liver surgery. We describe herein the procedure and usefulness of cystic plate isolation to approach the hilar plate, in both open and laparoscopic surgeries. This isolation can be applied in various manners. First, cystic plate traction can facilitate the Glissonian approach, drawing out the extrahepatic Glissonian pedicles and thus lengthening the pedicle, and facilitate isolation of these pedicles. Second, inflow control can be obtained by applying the cystic plate traction method to the Glissonian approach. This is suitable to control hepatic inflow when there is no need to divide vessels such as lymph node dissection or vascular resection and reconstruction. Third, the Glissonian approach can be used in surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal thrombosis. The cystic plate traction method potentially avoids injury to the Glissonian pedicle that would cause unnecessary bleeding, and is thus particularly efficient for advanced cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal thrombosis and collateral vessels around the area of obstruction in the Glissonian sheath. In this article, we focused on our anatomical knowledge and technical tips for making use of cystic plate isolation in liver surgery.

Methylation of multiple genes as molecular markers for diagnosis of a small, well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.

The current study was conducted to identify robust methylation markers and their combinations that may prove useful for the diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To achieve this, we performed in silico CpG mapping, direct sequencing and pyrosequencing after bisulfite treatment, and quantitative methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in HCC and non-HCC liver tissues. In the filtering group (25 HCCs), our direct sequencing analysis showed that, among the 12 methylation genes listed by in silico CpG mapping, 7 genes (RASSF1A, CCND2, SPINT2, RUNX3, GSTP1, APC and CFTR) were aberrantly methylated in stages I and II HCCs. In the validation group (20 pairs of HCCs and the corresponding non-tumor liver tissues), pyrosequencing analysis confirmed that the 7 genes were aberrantly and strongly methylated in early HCCs, but not in any of the corresponding non- tumor liver tissues (p < 0.00001). The results obtained using our novel quantitative MSP assay correlated well with those observed using the pyrosequencing analysis. Notably, in MSP assay, RASSF1A showed the most robust performance for the discrimination of HCC and non-HCC liver tissues. Furthermore, a combination of RASSF1A, CCND2 and SPINT2 showed 89-95% sensitivity, 91-100% specificity and 89-97% accuracy in discriminating between HCC and non-HCC tissues, and correctly diagnosed all early HCCs. These results indicate that the combination of these 3 genes may aid in the accurate diagnosis of early HCC.